Single Pull Transverse Strap Shoe Closure System

ABSTRACT

A system for securing shoes to the feet using a single pull shoe closure arrangement. Each of the various embodiments utilizes a “transverse strap” arrangement that extends between the lateral and medial sides of the shoe across the tongue or top portion of the shoe. The transverse strap is a single, generally flat, strap extending from one side of the shoe across the top portion of the shoe to the opposite side where it joins with a single pull sub-system. The preferred embodiments use a single pull system oriented longitudinally along one side of the shoe to draws upon one end of the transverse strap configuration to affect the shoe closure. Alternate embodiments pull a shorter draw strap laterally to a point of securement on the side of the shoe below the tongue area without the need for a longitudinal pull motion.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under Title 35 United States Code § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/852,212; Filed: May 23, 2019; the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shoes and systems for securing shoes to the feet. The present invention relates more specifically to structures and systems for drawing the upper components of a shoe together for shoe closure around the feet through the use of a single pull mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention addresses some of the same problems as the single pull fit adjustment systems for shoes described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,046; Issued: Jun. 14, 2016, in the name of Adams et al. The full disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,046 is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also addresses some of the same problems as the single pull fit adjustment systems for shoes described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,565,899; Issued: Feb. 14, 2017, in the name of Adams et al. The full disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 9,565,899 is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also addresses some of the same problems as the single pull squared cord shoe closure systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,514; Issued: Dec. 11, 2018, in the name of Adams et al. The full disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,514 is incorporated herein by reference.

Further, the present invention also addresses some of the same problems as the single pull squared cord shoe closure systems described in International Publication No.: WO 2018/052731 A1; International Publication Date: Mar. 22, 2018, in the name of Fit Squared Shoes, LLC. The full disclosure of International Publication No.: WO 2018/052731 A1 is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a number of preferred embodiments, within a general system for securing shoes to the feet that utilize a one pull shoe closure arrangement. Each of the various alternate embodiments of the present invention utilizes what is broadly referred to as a “transverse strap” arrangement that extends between the lateral and medial sides of the shoe across the tongue or top portion of the shoe. “Transverse Strap” arrangement refers to the single, generally flat, strap extending from one side of the shoe (typically the lateral side) across the top portion of the shoe to the opposite side (typically the medial side) where it joins with the single pull system generally set forth in the above cited references.

A number of embodiments described utilize the single pull system oriented longitudinally along one side of the shoe (typically the medial side) to draws upon one end of the transverse strap configuration to affect the shoe closure. The single pull strap in a first embodiment is redirected from a lateral orientation (across the shoe) to a longitudinal orientation (along the shoe) where it is drawn back with a longitudinal motion and secured on the side and/or heel portion of the shoe. Alternate embodiments pull a shorter draw strap laterally to a point of securement on the side of the shoe below the tongue area without the need for a longitudinal pull motion. Again, various structural mechanisms for effecting the drawing together of the transverse strap configurations are anticipated and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a medial side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system of the present invention, showing the redirection of the draw strap from a lateral orientation to a longitudinal orientation.

FIG. 2 is a lateral side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system of the present invention, as provided in FIG. 1, showing the point of redirection for the transverse strap as well as the point of attachment for the heel strap.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system of the present invention, as provided in FIGS. 1 & 2, showing the placement of the single transverse strap across the tongue or top portion of the shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made first to FIG. 1 which provides a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system 10 of the present invention, disclosing the manner of redirecting the pull on the outside portion 12 of the transverse strap from a lateral orientation to a longitudinal orientation. Shoe closure system 10 is again shown structured on the shoe with the view of FIG. 1 being the medial side of the shoe. The heel portion and toe portion of the shoe are also disclosed. The top of the tongue portion of the shoe is seen in profile.

Anchor strap 24, with attachment surface 26, is shown where it is fixed to the heel portion of the shoe, extending to or around the heel and then forward in a longitudinal direction along the length of the shoe towards rear strap buckle 22. Anchor strap 24 then redirects backwards through rear strap buckle 22 to terminate at attachment surface 26. As described above, various mechanisms for securing anchor strap 24 are anticipated. Rear strap buckle 22 may be a simple single loop buckle as shown or may be structured as a friction imparting buckle to facilitate maintaining the pull strap in a secure position. A further alternate embodiment wherein rear strap buckle 22 is omitted entirely and a single strap extends back to attachment surface 26 is also anticipated.

Extending forward of rear strap buckle 22 is the draw strap made up of draw strap longitudinal portion 20 and draw strap lateral portion 14. Effecting the change of direction from longitudinal to lateral for the draw strap is angle loop buckle 16. Holding angle loop buckle 16 in place at an approximate mid-point of the medial side of the shoe is holding strap 18 which in a preferred embodiment extends from the buckle to a fixed attachment point at the interface between the upper of the medial side of the shoe and the shoe sole or to a tab (not shown) extending upwards from the juncture of the upper and the outsole.

It should be noted that there is a functional preference to the specific manner of passing the draw strap (portions 14 & 20) through the angle loop ring or buckle 16. The portion of the draw strap entering the angle loop preferably enters the loop from the outside towards the shoe rather than from the shoe side of the loop ring outward. This manner of threading the draw strap through the angle buckle or loop reduces friction on the elements of the draw strap system and helps maintain a secure fit with repeated shoe bending movement.

The single pull system described above and shown in FIG. 1 connects to the transverse strap element of the present invention at the junction between draw strap lateral portion 14 and the outside portion 12 of the transverse strap. FIG. 2 is a lateral side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system of the present invention, as provided in FIG. 1, showing the point of redirection for the transverse strap as well as the point of attachment for the heel strap 28. The transverse strap is made up of an inside portion 11 (see FIG. 3) and an outside portion 12. One end of the inside portion 11 of the transverse strap is fixed to the medial side of the shoe upper in the area typically referred to as part of the eye stay. The transverse strap extends across the tongue area to the redirection point at single loop ring buckle 32 attached to the lateral side of the shoe at attachment point 34. After passing through single loop ring buckle 32, the outside portion 12 of the transverse strap redirects back across the tongue portion of the shoe to its point of connection with draw strap lateral portion 14 as best seen in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also shows the attachment point 30 for one end of the heel portion 28 of the anchor strap before it passes around the heel to its functional connection to the single pull system components of the present invention on the medial side of the shoe shown best in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the transverse strap shoe closure system of the present invention, as provided in FIGS. 1 & 2, showing the placement of the single transverse strap across the tongue or top portion of the shoe. Inside portion 11 of the transverse strap is shown fixed to the medial side of the shoe upper, extending across the tongue area to single loop ring buckle 32 attached to the lateral side of the shoe at attachment point 34.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the preferred embodiments of the present invention described are generally presented with the single pull motion being effected from or on the medial side of the shoe, all such embodiments may just as easily be effected from or on the lateral (outside) of the shoe.

While the various embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with a shoe that incorporates a tongue positioned between parallel and opposing eye stays, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented on shoes without specific tongue structures, such as shoe constructions with sides that overlap at an upper mid-line of the shoe, or in shoes not having parallel and opposing eye stays, or in shoes whose forward opening is not centered on top of the foot. As long as the attachment and redirection point structures of the various embodiments are positioned on opposing sides of the shoe, the shoe structure in between needs only to be compressible as the sides of the assembly are drawn together. Additional variations in the specific arrangements of the transverse strap structures, along with the attachment and redirection point mechanisms, will be anticipated by those skilled in the art, that still fall within the spirit and scope of the transverse strap single pull functionality of the present invention.

Additional alternate embodiments of the transverse strap system of the present invention may be implemented using the post and aperture securement mechanisms shown and described in FIGS. 6 & 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 10,149,514 (the full disclosure of which has been incorporated herein by reference above). While remaining a “single pull” system, this alternate embodiment eliminates the longitudinal pull components of the single pull system. 

We claim:
 1. A system for securing shoes to the feet using a single pull shoe closure arrangement, the system comprising: a transverse strap extending between the lateral and medial sides of the shoe across the tongue or top portion of the shoe, the transverse strap comprising a single, generally flat, strap extending from a fixed attachment on a first side of the shoe across the top portion of the shoe to the second side of the shoe; and a single pull sub-system oriented longitudinally along the second side of the shoe, a first end of the single pull sub-system connected to the transverse strap and the second end of the single pull sub-system movably connected to a heel portion of the shoe; wherein pulling on the second end of the single pull sub-system draws upon the transverse strap to affect the shoe closure. 